Police on the spot in Lalbaug where clashes took place on Sunday night. (Source: Express Photo by Vasant Prabhu)
A day after the communal clashes at Parel, Byculla, Dadar and Worli, the State Minority Commission on Monday wrote to the Mumbai Police claiming that the assault on several Muslim youths at Lalbaug on Sunday night was a planned conspiracy aimed at instilling fear in the minds of members of the minority community.
“On Sunday night, those returning from a procession celebrating Prophet Mohammed’s birth anniversary were attacked. The visual evidence available shows that the incidents in Parel, Byculla, Dadar and Worli were pre-planned,” the minority panel’s chairman Munaf Hakim said in the letter. He further stated that an armed mob deliberately stopped and assaulted Muslims who were travelling in vehicles.
“The visual evidence clearly shows that a mob emerged from these localities and stopped cars and motorcycles and assaulted people,” the letter stated while demanding action against all those found to be involved in the incidents.
“These incidents have occurred in the same majority-dominated areas where such attacks have taken place earlier too. These attacks have been carried out to disturb the law and order situation in the state and also instil fear in the minds of the minorities,” Hakim said.
Byculla MLA Waris Pathan too claimed that members of the minority community were deliberately targeted. “Some people complained to me they were stopped because of their appearance and assaulted,” Pathan said.
However, Shiv Sena MLA Ajay Chaudhary, who was at the spot on Sunday night, refuted the charge. He claimed the clash was not because of an accident, as some people claimed, but because of behaviour of the bikers who were returning from the procession. “People returning from the procession abused people on the road. Firecrackers were thrown by these people towards those bystanders. They even surrounded a traffic warden at Bharatmata signal and were about to assault him. It was only then that the public got involved and assaulted some of them,” Chaudhary said.
He claimed the clashes continued for long because a mob from Byculla reportedly stood on Lalbaug flyover and threw stones and firecrackers on those below.
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Eid-e-Milad marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed and is largely celebrated by Sunni Barelvi Muslims. “Organisers of the procession had requested people to be be at their best behaviour. But when you are in a holiday mood, your behaviour also seems to take a holiday. This is a universal principle, which is also evident during Holi and Ganpati festivals. The incident was one-off. It has never occurred in the past and I hope will not occur in the future as well,” said Sarfaraz Azu, vice-chairman of the All India Khilafat Committee, which organises the procession.
Arzu claimed the incident seemed a manifestation of the growing demonisation of the minority community in the country. “It was an isolated event which was immediately contained. However, it also reflects the growing demonisation of the Muslim community where everything associated with them is seen in a negative way,” he said.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More
Police on the spot in Lalbaug where clashes took place on Sunday night. (Source: Express Photo by Vasant Prabhu)
